Americans of Conscience Checklist: January 21, 2022

If you live in AL, AZ, GA, IA, IL, KS, MI, MO, NC, NH, PA, SC, VA, or WI, contact your state legislators (look up).

Find your state’s pending legislation in this spreadsheet. Scroll horizontally to the column labeled “Penalizing Election Officials” and scroll down to find the bill number(s) for your state.

Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] calling because I believe election officials are dedicated civil servants who are vitally important to our democracy. I urge you to vote NO on [BILL # FROM SPREADSHEET] because it penalizes election officials for good-faith actions taken in the course of doing their jobs. Thank you.

If you live in any other state, donate to the Voting Rights Lab to support their work on state campaigns nationwide.

People in jail and prison are human beings with social and spiritual needs. Abolition Apostles is an national organization that offers moral and spiritual support to members of the community who are incarcerated through compassionate human connection, including letter-writing, material assistance, advocacy, visitation, and re-entry resources.

Volunteer: To become a penpal with Abolition Apostles.

Contact: Sec. Xavier Becerra 
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775

Script: I’m from [STATE] and concerned that covid test kits are not being equitably distributed. Four free tests to each street address means that people in apartment complexes, large families, and roommate situations are receiving too few tests or none at all. I support this initiative, but people–especially without insurance–must be able to order the number of no-cost tests they need for their household. Thank you.

The town of Adel, GA is already home to several toxic plants, and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) recently issued a permit to a new industrial corporation without inviting public comments. Community members are demanding the GA EPD be held to the national standards of the Clean Air Act and establish an open public comment period before the facility is permitted to operate.

Sign: The petition to EPA Office of Air and Radiation Acting Assistant Administrator Joseph Goffman.

Note: Uncheck “Yes, sign me up for email updates” if you do not wish to subscribe to updates.

Contact: Kroger Corporation at 1-800-576-4377 or via their comment form.

Script: Hello, I’m a [CUSTOMER/CONCERNED CITIZEN] contacting you in solidarity with your employees demanding liveable wages. A recent survey of over 10,000 Kroger workers showed that more than two-thirds of your employees struggle to afford food, housing, and other basic needs due to low wages and part-time work schedules. I’m supporting their calls to increase workers’ wages to reflect inflation rates and provide your employees with a living wage.

In February 2021, President Biden introduced the Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families to help reconnect families traumatically separated at the border under the previous administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy. The task force reunited 100 children with their families in the first 10 months, leaving roughly 5,400 children still separated from family and 1,150 unaccounted for. The DHS is inviting public recommendations to support the efficacy of the task force.

Submit your comment by January 25, 2022: On Regulations.gov. Using your own words, using the focus points below:

• End family separation.
• Reunify all families still separated.
• Support separated and reunited families’ emotional recovery and provide appropriate relief and resources to facilitate their healing.
• Prevent future family separation by enacting safeguards and policies to end this inhumane practice forever.
• Select and train border agents for the humane treatment of aspiring Americans.

The newly-enacted Illinois Way Forward Act bans its cities and counties from contracting out jail space to ICE to detain aspiring Americans. Add your name to demand those currently detained in McHenry and Kankakee county facilities be released to their communities without monitoring equipment, and not transferred to different facilities or deported.

Sign: The DWN petition to DHS Secretary Mayorkas and Acting Field Office Director Renda.

Note: Uncheck “Please keep me informed of the organization’s efforts” if you do not wish to subscribe to updates.

Phoeun You is a Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee who grew up in California. For the past 25 years, Phoeun has been incarcerated in the state prison system. In recognition of his commitment to service, mentorship, and rehabilitation, the Board of Parole Hearings recommended his release in early January. Immediately after release, ICE detained Phoeun and prevented him from reuniting with his family and community.

Send an encouraging note: To Phoeun using APSC’s  form.

Donate: To Phoeun’s reentry/freedom fund through Venmo @protectphoeun.

Thank RI state senator Liana Cassar (D) and state representative Bridget Valverde (D) for introducing legislation requiring RI’s Medicaid program and state employees’ health plans to cover abortion.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
LC: Capitol Office, 82 Smith St. Providence, RI 02903
BV: 14 Cambridge Court, North Kingstown, RI 02852

Thank Miles 4 Migrants and Human Rights First for facilitating donations of unused airline miles to help reunite families separated by war, persecution, and disaster.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
M4M: 3629 Laurel St., New Orleans, LA, 70115
HRF: 75 Broad St., 31st Floor, New York, NY 10004

Thank rapper Cardi B for paying the funeral costs for victims who lost their lives in a recent fire in the Bronx.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: c/o KSR Group, 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite K261, New York, NY 10001